August 2020

On July 16, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published notice of a proposed Made in USA Labeling Rule. The FTC is seeking comments related to “Made in USA” and other U.S. Origin claims on product labels (“MUSA claims:”). The public comment period ends on September 14, 2020.

The FTC has been enforcing the MUSA policy pursuant to the Enforcement Policy Statement on U.S. Origin Claims (“Policy Statement”). This policy requires that a marketer making an unqualified claim for its product should, at the time of the representation, have a reasonable basis for asserting that “all or virtually all” of the product is made in the United States.

The FTC is now proposing a MUSA Labeling Rule to prevent unfair or deceptive acts or practices relating to MUSA labeling. The proposed rule tracks the FTC’s previous MUSA Decisions and Orders by prohibiting marketers from including unqualified MUSA claims on labels unless:

1. Final assembly or processing of the product occurs in the United States

2. All significant processing that goes into the product occurs in the United States, and

3. All or virtually all ingredients or components of the product are made and sourced in the United States. The proposed rule also covers labels making unqualified MUSA claims appearing in mail order catalogs or mail order advertising.

The FTC proposes the Made in USA Labeling Rule for two primary reasons: to strengthen its enforcement program and make it easier for businesses to understand and comply with the law. Specifically, by codifying the existing standards applicable to MUSA claims in a rule as authorized by Congress, the FTC will be able to provide more certainty to marketers about the standard for making unqualified claims on product labels. In addition, enactment of the NPRM will enhance deterrence by authorizing civil penalties against those making unlawful MUSA claims on product labels. The MUSA rule would be listed under 16 CFR Part 323.

On July 27, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final significant use rule (SNUR) for long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate (LCPFAC) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonate chemical substances. This is under citation, 85 Fed. Reg. 45109.  The final rule will be effective on September 25, 2020.

The EPA first proposed a SNUR for LCPFAC and perfluoroalkyl sulfonate chemical substances in 2015. On March 3, 2020, the EPA issued a proposed supplemental SNUR for LCPFAC chemical substances that would invalidate the exemption for persons who import a subset of LCPFAC chemical substances as part of surface coatings on articles under 85 Fed. Reg. 12479.

The final SNUR will require persons to notify the EPA at least 90 days before commencing:

• The manufacturing (including importing) or processing of a subset of LCPFAC chemical substances for any use that was not ongoing after December 31, 2015;

• The manufacturing (including importing) or processing of all other LCPFAC chemical substances for which there were no ongoing uses as of January 21, 2015 (the date of the original proposed SNUR);

• The import of a subset of LCPFAC chemicals as part of a surface coating on articles; and

• The import of perfluoroalkyl sulfonate chemical substances as a part of carpets.

The final SNUR will preclude the commencement of such manufacturing and processing until the EPA has conducted a review of the notice, made an appropriate determination on the notice, and taken such actions as required in association with that determination.

On July 28, 2020, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection published Chapter 890 on Designation of PFOS and Its Salts as Priority Chemicals. It requires reporting for certain children’s products that contain Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (“PFOS”) or its salt. The rule takes effect immediately.

Manufacturers or distributors of products that contain intentionally added amounts of PFOS or its salts, must report to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) the amount and function of PFOS or its salts in reported products, among other information. This requirement applies to the products listed below.

• Childcare articles;

• Clothing;

• Footwear;

• Sleepwear;

• Toys;

• Cookware, tableware, reusable food and beverage containers;

• Cosmetics and personal care products;

• Craft supplies;

• Electronic devices; and

• Household furniture and furnishings.

Products in the categories below are exempt:

• Used products;

• Food and beverage packaging;

• Transportation (motor vehicles or watercraft or their component parts).

The deadline for reporting children’s products containing PFOS or its salts will be January 24, 2021 (no later than 180 days after the effective date), or 30 days after the sale commences if the products start to be sold after that date. A regulated entity may request a waiver of the reporting requirements for reasons set forth in Department Rule 06-096 C.M.R. ch. 880 §5(C).

On July 20, 2020, Health Canada published a new version of Method F02 Flammability of Toys (Dolls, Plush toys, and Soft Toys). The new test method was effective on the date of issuance.

Comparing to previous version, there is no technical change, but there are a few editorial changes. Below is a comparison table of both versions of standard.

Le 26 juin 2020, le ministère danois de l'Environnement et de l'Alimentation a publié l'ordre exécutif BEK no. 947 du 20/06/2020 relatif à l'interdiction des phtalates dans les jouets et articles pour jeunes enfants ne dépassant pas 0,05 % en masse. Le décret est entré en vigueur le 1er juillet 2020. L'arrêté exécutif précédent n° 855 du 5 septembre 2009 est abrogé. 855 du 5 septembre 2009 est abrogé.

Les définitions de la nouvelle ordonnance sont les suivantes :

• Les jouets sont exclusivement ou partiellement conçus ou destinés à être utilisés par des enfants âgés de 0 à 3 ans (0 à 36 mois) pendant le jeu.

• Les articles pour tout-petits sont tous les produits destinés à être mis en bouche par des enfants âgés de 0 à 3 ans (0 à 36 mois), y compris notamment les tétines, les bavoirs, les bijoux, le matériel de bain, etc.

• Les phtalates sont des esters de l'acide o-phtalique.

Le décret ne couvre pas les phtalates qui sont restreints par les règlements suivants :

• L'annexe II du décret relatif aux exigences de sécurité applicables aux produits du jouet est consacrée aux exigences de sécurité particulières.

• Entrées 51 et 52 de l'annexe XVII du règlement REACH de l'UE (CE) n° 1907/2006.

Le décret ne couvre pas les articles destinés aux jeunes enfants, qui sont censés entrer en contact avec les aliments.

En Australie, lorsque des dangers sont identifiés dans des produits de consommation, ils seront rappelés et publiés dans la base de données des rappels et des alertes de sécurité sur le site Web de la Commission australienne de la concurrence et de la consommation, qui est mise à jour quotidiennement. Les rappels en Australie du 3 décembre 2019 au 30 juillet 2020 sont résumés ci-dessous :

*Les autres dangers comprennent les risques de brûlure, les risques chimiques, les risques d'endommagement de la vue, les risques de noyade, les risques de piégeage, les risques de chute et les risques pour la santé, avec une fréquence inférieure à 7.

Les autres catégories comprennent les cosmétiques, les lunettes, les matériaux en contact avec les aliments, les appareils électroménagers (sèche-cheveux, fer à repasser, etc.), les équipements de protection individuelle, les chaussures, le matériel d'éclairage et les bijoux, avec une fréquence inférieure à 4.

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